American Machinist Vol 1 No 1 1877. Copy or real.

Found this at a thrift today. Someone had it framed behind glass.
I'm not sure if it is real as it is in such great condition. I haven't been able to find anything to compare it to. it is 12" x 15" and has 16 pages.

Mikey

 

Oh, interesting - but it just looks "too new" Black type instead of brownish
@springfld.arsenal

 

I think he would have info on that!!

 

It certainly would be a strange thing to reproduce.

Debora

 

Ah, but the title was around in print until 2013 and had several different publishers. Yours very well could be a promotional re-issue.

Debora

 

Assume it is original for now, I couldn’t find any mention of a re-issue. A slightly beat-up one got $70. on Eboo, yours is certainly worth somewhere over $100., it is very desirable among historically-interested machinists.

 

Here's a partial photo of an early issue. Do note how the paper has aged.

Debora

 

There was a 1927 reprint which I think was identified as such in text added on upper right, too small to read, but not present on OP’s item.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/P285-Vintage-AMERICAN-MACHINIST-Vol-1-1-November-1877-Miller-amp-Bailey-1927-/391989725207?hash=item5b44688817:g:8CoAAOSwh3JalIQP&nma=true&si=6XCh%2FxX%2BNoviQELv5o%2Fu%2BS3W4SU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The method of binding may help,tell the difference between old and new, but I don’t know much in this field. Op’s Has two staples like this reprint, and copies we think are original don’t have staples.

 

So are you saying copies don't have staples. or originals don't?
Here is a closeup of the staples

 

Well, what type of frame was it in? Period or contemporary?

Debora

 

The words at the upper right of the front page of the 1927 reprint say

TWO SECTIONS
(SECTION TWO)
MAY 19, 1927

 

The frame is newer. this was just put on top of the print dated 1989.

 

What does "newer" mean? What "print dated 1989?"

Debora

 

The quality of the graphics (on photo 5&6) don't look good enough to be an original, looks poorly copied and some of the detail lost.

 

I don’t recall seeing staples on originals I saw online. The good pic of the staple you posted doesn’t look like it could have been in that paper for well over 100 years, no oxidation at all, not even on bare steel ends. You’d have to have kept it from any moisture all that time.

 

I am finding issues with staples and some without. Other than the 1927 reissue that is noted on the cover I can't find any others. (Not that they don't exist ). As far as the quality of the graphics, that is more the quality or lack of quality of my photo skills. It is possible this is original, but not probable.
Mike

 

Back in the 70s or 80s prints of old ads and newspapers was a decor 'thing.' I remember a chain restaurant that even had the laminated table tops covered with these.